Don Mattingly may be the Phillies’ manager, but around Philadelphia’s front office, it sounds like his son Preston has the upper hand.
After a strong regular season that still ended without a World Series title, the Phillies are being pushed toward a busy offseason, with fans already looking ahead to possible moves for two MLB stars in free agency. One name generating buzz is Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill, and the latest update on that pursuit has only fueled more speculation about what President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and Vice President/General Manager Preston Mattingly might put together.
But the most memorable moment from this stretch came when Don Mattingly was asked about working under his son. The former Yankees star didn’t exactly hide his amusement.
“Not really…I think I'm just tired of him being my boss,” Don Mattingly said when asked if he was tired of being asked questions about his son.
He then explained the dynamic in the dugout and the front office.
“When you don’t take that pitcher out in the sixth, and then it doesn’t go good, and then afterwards, you gotta listen to the questions from him and Dave, and I can just tell from the questions on his face, you should (have) taken him.
“It’s really been a lot of fun, actually, working with Preston, Preston's sharp, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him, the way he looks at things is sometimes different from the way I would look at it. But it’s been interesting…It’s been a lot of fun for me.”
The Phillies are headed into a stretch that could bring major changes, with MLB labor talks looming and Bryce Harper’s playing status for 2027 still uncertain. After an 88-win campaign in 2026, the Mattinglys figure to be part of whatever comes next as Philadelphia looks to take another step forward.
In Other News...
Phillies Are Quietly Building Infield Depth For A Bigger Roster Squeeze
The Phillies added a pair of infielders off waivers from the Giants, claiming Brett Harris and Shay Whitcomb as part of a quiet push to strengthen organizational depth. It is the kind of move that does not change the top of the roster right away, but it does matter for a team that is always balancing injuries, rest days and the need to keep options available for the long season.
Harris and Whitcomb both bring strong Triple-A rsums, even if neither has much major league experience yet. The roster wrinkle is different for each player: Harris has no minor league options left, while Whitcomb does, which could make it easier for the Phillies to keep him around as the season moves forward and the infield picture gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Prospects Are Flashing Big Upside But One Question Remains
Baseball Americas latest look at the Phillies system offered plenty for the front office and fan base to feel good about, with several names drawing attention for different reasons. Tyler Spangler, Will Gasparino, Bryan Rincon and Francisco Renteria all surfaced as prospects with real upside, while pitchers Gage Wood and Wen-Hui Pan added more depth to a farm system that appears to be building across multiple areas. Even the defensive side of the ledger has some pop, with Rincon and Nathan Humphries standing out for their work in the field.
What makes the group interesting is how varied the skill sets are, from toolsy position players to arms with room to grow. The bigger question now is how all that promise translates into actual major league help, because a system can look encouraging on paper and still leave one important issue hanging until the prospects start turning potential into production. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Bullpen Rebound Could Put One Key Arm Back In Demand
After another disappointing postseason exit, the Phillies are already being pushed toward bullpen upgrades, and one name that fits the conversation is Jonathan Loisiga. The right-hander turned in a strong 2026 season with the Diamondbacks, enough to put him back on the radar as a free agent target for a club that knows late-inning relief can swing October plans in a hurry.
For Philadelphia, the appeal is straightforward: a proven arm with a rebound season behind him and a health profile that makes him worth another look. The Phillies are searching for ways to tighten up the relief corps for next year, and Loisigas resurgence in Arizona has put him in position to be one of the more interesting bullpen options on the market. [Read more 🡒]